Vibgil w



(Np Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 1.

xv@ W.- BLANCHARD.

BLECTRI GENERATR.

N0.268,174. Patented Nov. 28, 1882t @4% @yay/M A Lo rueg- (No Model.)y A- i zsheets-sneetz.

V. W. BLANCHARD.

' ELETRI GENERATOR.

1.808.268.1747 Patentedl Nov. 28, 1882.

In Ue/z 071 "N yer i ITED rATEs VIRG'IL wfiLA-NCHARD, or', New YORK, N. Y.V

fe'reo'raic enses/iron.

- -BPECFiGA-:HON forming pari; of Lettersratenr No. 268,174, dated November-28,1882. .applica-tion filed August 31, 18,82.` (Nomodc'l.)

Figure lis a perspective, view of the ovens l y and gas-reservoirs, showing their general ar- .,rangement. Fig. 2-i s.a perspective viewof a vessel adapted to contain the elements and an 1 felectrolytic bath. Fig. 3 is a perspeetive'view--- of-one ofthe elements or plateshaving itselas-v f .l tie'packi'ng removed. Fig. 4 is a View of one .f ofthe elements having its'circumferential-elas- 2b tic packing in position for use.

Similar lettersl ofreference indicate correspending parts throughout.-

'A represents a semieircular vesselfeontaining the electrolytic bath, into which thegener- .ating-plates D D are placed. These plates are -'secured by the dovetailed groove' F to a core" vresponding rib, C, form-ing part of the'axis' or` vshaft B,that revolvesin adjustable boxes QQin the upper surface of the end walls of the ve's sel A. A greater'or'less number of the plates 7 D may be adjusted on the axis B, the spaces between said plates forming cells in the electrolytic bath in the vessel .A yto .contain the 'eleetrolytie fluid neccssaryin the generation of electric potential. It will bereadily understood that two rows or 'series of generatingplates may be adjusted to the shaft or axis B, '-`one(the 1o\ver)rcw occupying the vessel A,eonv taining the elcctrolytic bath. The other (the upper) row, being attached in the same manner to said journal or axis, may be applied at any convenient time, and by'rotating it the lower andpreviously-immersedseriesofplateswillbe removed from the eleetg'olytic bath, while the uppcrrow will then be in vprecisely the same 'position as that occupied by the rowben'eath previous to the revolution of the saidv shaft.

1t will be apparent that the plates may readily and quickly be removed from the axis or shaft by being slid along the rib until reaching its -termination.

Q Q 'represent adjustable boxes in which the axis or shaft B turns Awhen actuated by the -erank E. l, R R represent screwspav ssing through; the.

extremities of the boxes QQ in suchA aiman- Aner that by turning 'thernfthe shaft or. axis B vmay be' raised or elevated in its whole length,

carrying w-ithfit thegerierating-plates DvD.v

Thesemicireulareireum fereneeof which generi 60 ating-plates being made to iit accurately the semicircular diameteror interioil of the vessel A, it beeomesevident. that by actuating the A screws B. E the periphery ofjt'he .plates D D' may be raised vfrom actual contaetwith the in.V terior 'circumference of thecvvessel A.

, Prepresents a rubber gasket or strip ofelasr' tie material applied'to the cireumferencelof the-plates, and when the axis'B is lowered- Afar as possible in the .eleetrolytic'bath in the vesselA said strip P will form, by the pressure of the weight of the plate to which it'isat'- tached, a watertight joint between the c i cumference of saidplate D andthe interior surface of the vessel A. By appropriately placing the plates D watertight cells .of suit able size may be formed between them to containtheeleetrolytic fluid essential to the o`peration of the invention while at the sanne time the immersed plates may easily and .8b. 'quickly be removed from the electrolytic bath i in' the mannerheretofore set forth.

D represents one' of the electric generating# plates forming part of this invention.

M M", occupying transversely theuppe'r portionlof the interior of the plate, and two-compartments below occupying laterally the'nteriorof the plate, below the upperapartments,

apartments in the interior .of the plateare divided by a partition, S, extending through the plate in a longitudinal direction -into two sym 4 .ri-pheral wall of the plateD. These pipes have their lower extremities closed, and may be a greater or less distance from each other, as may be desirablein practice. It will beparticularly Y 'observed that each compartment M M communicates with thepipes traversing the eompart- The walls of this plate are divided by partitions'- 85- into four compartments, two compartments,

, n v90 M M. It will be observed that the two lower.v

i oo

K, Fig. l, represent-s a reservoir of oxygen gas connected by a pipe with the apartment M', and L represents a reservoir of hydrogen gas connected by a pipe With the-compartment M. The reservoir K is provided with the stopcock K', and thereservoir Lis provided With the stop-cock L', by which the passage of the gs to the plate D may be regulated.y By opening the stop-cock K oxygen gas will flow throiigh the connecting-pi pe into the apartment M', and

from thence downward through the perforated pipes J J into the cavity beneath, and hydro gen gas in like manner, when the stop-cock L is opened, will iow from. said reservoir into the compartment M, and from thence through the perforated pipes into the compartment beneath.

G' l G' represent the frame of a door opening into one ofthe compartments in the plate per portion of the surface oi'said plate. A simi la'r hinged door-frarne is attached to the other v side ofthe plate D, opening into a similar compartment, in which are seen the perforated pipes J J J, heretofore described.

Letter G represents a perforated metallic plate or a Wall formed of fibrous material attaehed to the door-frame G G G, and forming theouter Wall of. the seincircular plane surface of the plate D.

I represents a bolt passing fromv the doorfrarnc on one side of' the plate D to the doorframe on the other side ofsaid plate, by means of which said 'doors are kept in proper position, securely closing both of the lower cornpartments in the plate D.

F represents an angular groove formed i-n the upper surface of the plate D, the use of which .has heretofore been described.

T and U represent two ovens constructed in a smilar manner, the doors a and a' entering into the fuel-chambers, the doors b entering into the ash-pits, the doors c and o entering into the roastingchainbers, and the chimneys e and e' carrying oif the Waste gases from each.

d and d' represent shelves in the roastingchainbers of the respective ovens, the doors c and 'cbeing provided with asbestus gaskets or packing, so that they will close the roastingovens air-tight.

Letters f and f' represent two tubes entering the roasting-ehambersfrom Without, with closed extremities Within the ovens and open extremities Without, in which a pyronneter may be introduced into each oven to accurately determine the temperature of each, When aiire is burning on the grate v in a fuel-chamber of each, Without opening the doors c and c. The pan iis provided with a perforated bottono for holding the metal to be oxidized or den oxidized in the ovens T and U. yThese pans should be of a suitable size to enter the doors'. and rest on the shelves in the ovens While thel roasting process is going on. The pipe g, connecting the upperportion of the 'oven T withr the lower portion of the oven U, may be opened and elosedby means of the stop-cock g'.

7L represents a pipe connecting the reservoir K with the oven U, and is provided with suitable stopcock, h. By means of the pipe It free orygen gas may be introduced into the lower portion of the oven U beneath the pans i, which are supported on wiregauze or per-v forated metal.

Zrepresents a dischargepipe inserted into the top of the roastingoven U, provided with the valve Z', by which air or gases that said oven may contain may be discharged into the atmosphere.

if the central partition, S, in each plate is iinpervious to the electrolytic liquid, the plates Will have to be connected in series by suitable Wires.

ln the practical operation of my invention a granulated metal, preferably-lead, is placed in pans-z' on shelves d' ol in the roasting-oven U, Fire is then kindled in the fuel-chamber of the oven, and when the granulated lead Y reaches the temperature of 350 to 400 Fahrenheit oxygen gas is admitted to. said oven from the reservoir K through the connectingpipe, thevalve g in the pipe g being closed. After the atmospheric air is allowed to escape from the oven U the valve in the pipe Z is closed. The temperature of the oven maybe determined from time to time by passing a pyrometer into the pipef'. After the granulated lead has been kept at the temperature of 350or to 400o Fahrenheit for ashort time in an atmosphere of irce oxygen gas it will become converted into peroxide oflead, after which it may be removed from the roasting-ovcn, it being then fitted for use in the plates of my electric generator. By removing the bolt Iin the generating-plate D the doors' on each side of said plate may be opened, disclosing a cavity on each side of said plate partially illed with the perforated metal tubes J J, which l would prefer should be formed of lead, although they 1 2o may be formed of other suitable material. The cavity on one side of the generating-plate D should be lled or closely packed with the granulated peroxide oflead,it being introduced between and around the perforated tubes J J, While the cavity in the other side of the generating-plate should be iilled in a similar manner with vfine granulated metal, preferably lead, after which the hinged sides or doors of the plate may be closed and rrnly secured in place by a suitable bolt. l't will then. be observed thaton one side of the generatingplate IIO accade we have a layer ofthe peroxide vof lead packed .j around the perforated tubes, while on the other side of said plate, separated by the partition S, we have fine granulated lead packed in asimilar .manner around similar tubes. As the 'sides Vfori'ning a large portion of the doors xopening into the cavities in the plate D are composed of perforated metal, or preferably ofY 'fibrous material like felt or thick flannel, or

any suitable material that will allow a free i passageof 4gaseous or'viiuid elements, it becomes evident that oxygen and hydrogen gas may be forced from the reservoirs K and L and intothe' cavities M and'M, and'from I5.

thence through the pipes J "J J J among the granulated material aroundsaid pipes, and

from thence through the perforated' plates 'or 4material forming the doors G G of the plate D. After a su'iiicient number of generatingplates have been filled with granulated metal and granulated metallic oxide in 4the manner just described, the said' plates are slid along the metallic oxide in theinterior of the plate the rib C on the axis or shaft B, an interval `of from oneffourh 'of an inch toA two inches faces. Said plates'should be soarranged that should'be in opposition tothe metallic gran- 1 ules of unoxidized'metal in the opposing-plate. quantity of electrolyti'c fluid, preferably a com- V The vessel Ais vto be supplied with a proper pound of diluted sulphuric acid, although any ljustable boxes Q Q havebeen suiiiciently ele- .Y

. ries of the generating-plates, now rmly at` tached to the axle or shaft B, may be immersed acidulated liquid will suffice.. `When the advated by means of the set-screws RB. one soin theelectrolytic bath by rotati-ng the shaft B by means of the crank E.

shaft B may be lowered yto allow the 'strip P4 on the semicircularperiphery of each generatiing-plate D tobe brought into forcible contact by the weight of the said plate with the interior' surface of the, vessel A, which contains the electrolytic bath, forming water-tight joints to separate cells. f We have then, asshown in v vably by two layers of 'fibrous material-such 6. gen gas may be made to flow into each generyas felt or thick flannel-and fluid. "It .will be necessaryto have the metallicoxide located on similar surfaces of the generating-plates in the whole series of generatingplates in the electrolytic bath'. Then by means of the reservoirs K and `L and the tubes 4'atthe' electrolytic tached a current of both oxygen and hydro? being provided between their opposing sur.

By lowering the set-screws R R lthe axle or,

ating-'plate in the series, said current of gases .passing into the cavities M and M', and .from thence downward through the perforated pipes J J' among the granules of metallic oxide and unoxidized metal surrounding said pipes, and

from thence outwardly through the perforated I 'or fibrous walls G G into theelectrolytic fluid in each cell in the bath-A.

It will be observed that .the electrolytic uid in each cell of theV bath Awill'freely permeate and circulate in theinteri'or of the generatingplate D as far as 'the central partition that di-j vides the lower portion of the plate into two cavities or apartments. In this manner it is readily seen that oxygen and hydrogen gas, or oxygen gas alonefmaybe applied to the metallic oxide and unoxidized metal inthe generating-plate D in the presence of the elecvtrolytic fluid, or while at the same time said fluid is in contact with said metal. In the :re'`

duction of this invention to,practice,under certain circumstances, 1t is preferable to cause a current of oxygen gas to flow, in the manner set forth, into thev cavity of the generatingplate occupied by the metallic oxide, and also to cause a current of hydrogen gas to dow into the cavity idized metal.-

The use and application of oxygen and hydrogen gas, or of oxygen gas alone, to the genof said plate occupied by the u'nox'-` erating-plate D in some instances may be di'sf pensed with, although 'it is a very valuable auxiliary.

'When the plates at the two extremities of 100 the axis or shaft B are connected by a suitable conductor, O, the current will iiow throughv said conductor, and by placing an electric lamp o r motor in the circuit a light may be maintained or power realized to apply to other useful-purposes. VThe'l current will continue to flow until suicient oxygen from the metallic oxide on one side of the generating-plates D has been transferred'tothe opposing surface infeacl electrolytic cell and their equilibrium restored, cryin other words, until each oppos.- ing metallic surface in each electrolytic cell' 'r Io contains the same quantity of oxygen in the 'l ing-plates D D in the electrolytic'bath A have entirelyl lost their susceptibility to chemical change, and their' consequent electrical potential, a second set or seriesof generatinglplates form of a metallic oxide. Before the generatf should be prepared, as described, and slid on the upperrib, C, of the' axis'B in" the same rad-- 4relative position as those' that were rst at tached to it. Then theadjustable boxes Q Q- r should be elevated in the manner heretofore described, so as to relieve the rubber gasket P oneaoh plate from cont-act with the interior surface of the vessel A, when Vby'means of the crank E the new plates just applied to the shaft B ,may be immersed in the electrolytic.

liquid and the exhausted plates removed there-- from by turning said shaft half round. Bylowering the bearings Q Q, as described, the separate cells are again formed between the plates.,4

gas it contains will be set free, and bg The exhausted generating-plates new occupying 'the upper side of the axis B may easily be detached from it, when the cavity in each plate that was at first filled with unoxidized metal should be-emptied of its contents of oxidized metal and refilled with unoxidizcd metal, as in the first instance, when its susceptibility to chemical action will be itc-established audits electricpotential restored if placedin its former relation to other similar plates in the electrolytic bath. The protoxide of.lead removed'from the exhausted generating-plates may be set aside for future use; or it may be introduced into the roasting-oven U in the manner previously described, when by the application of heat ranging from 500 to'575o Fahrenheit the oxygen a proper adjustment of valves be driven over nd stored in the reservoir K for future use in the electrolytic bath. simplicity, effectiveness, and economy are realized in the production of electric potential.

When oxygen gas isy not introduced into the generating-plate Din vthe manner heretofore described, but when the electric potency of the said plate is entirely dcpendenton the per'- oxide of lead introduced into o nc of its cavities after its ei'ectiveness ceases in the electrolytic bath, it will'be found that cach of its cavities contains protoxidc of lead or oxidized form of -lead closely related to it. In this case both' cavities in -the generating-plate.may be emptied of the oxidized metal they contain. Thus a part of it may be placedin the roasting-oven T and a part in the roasting-oven nen by raising the temperature of the oven Y T to 575o Fahrenheit and thetemperature of the oven U to about 350 Fahrenheit, and at the same time opening the valve g', the oxygen gas contained in the oxidized Inetal in the oven T will be set free, and will pass through the pipe g and combine with the protoxide ofl lead in the ovenA U, forming the peroxide of lead. XVe then have the protoxide oflead re- Amoved from the generati ng-plate D converted in equal portions to the peroxide of lead and deoxidized lead, or left in a metallic state for future use, for it is well known that oxidized lead exposed to a temperature just below the melting-point will yield. its oxygen and become reduced to metallic lead, and also that the protoxide exposed to oxygen gas at a temperature of 350 Fahrenheit will combine with said oxygen and form the peroxide of lead.

yThus We have the protoxide of lead restored to a condition to be sed vagain in the generating-plate D, with a very slight expenditure in material or costin the method of reduction. An important feature of my invention consists in the f actthat the elements of my electric generator may be prepared for use at a distance from the -electrolvtic bath in which y v they yield electrlc energy, and that after their store of chemical potential becomes exhausted they may readily be removed from said bath By these means the greatest.

and others substituted without interrupting, except in a slight degree, the maximum efficiency of the device. o Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. An electric generating device consisting essentially of a series of hollow box-like plates or elements having a removable filling 'of oxidized and non-oxidized granular -metal vin separated compartments, an electrolytic bath, and suitable connecting-wires, substantially as described.

' 2. An electric element or generating-plate formed with a central'partition having ehambers on each side thereoprovided with hinged walls of foraminous material and adapted to contain granular metal, vand a passage above each 'of said chambers, having a series of perforated tubes leading therefrom into and among the Vgranular metal,- and adapted to convey gaseous iinid thereto, as specified.

3. A semicircular element formed of two adjacent compartments containing respectively oxidized and non-oxidized granular lead, and provided with hinged side walls and passages vconnected with one or more reservoirs of gas communicating with said compartments, and a strip or gasket of elastic material arranged to form an edgewise packing for said element, substantially as described.

4. TheV combination of the revolving semicircularsets of platcs, removably secured to an adjustable axis, and a semieylindricalcontaining-vessel, `and adapted,when lowered into the said vessel, to form separzlite cells between each of said plates, substantially as described.-

5. The plate D,'formcd with longitudinal and transverse partitions, the hinged pcrforated sidesG, extending below said transverse partitions,` a suitable `circumferential elastic strip, and the perforated tubes J, extending downward and'adapted to convey gaseous fluid from the compartments M M to the compartments below the transverse partitions, substantially as setforth. l

G. 'The combination of the plates D, constructed as described,with the semicylindrical' vessel and adj ustable bearings, a suitable axis and operating devices, and the electrolytic liquid, substantially as described.

7. Thecombination of the plates D and two or more gas-reservoirs in connectiontherewith, a'vessel containing electrolytic liquid, and an IOC adjustable supporting-axis, as shown and described.

8. The roasting-ovens T U and connectingpipes, incombination with the reservoirs L K and plates D', substantially as shown and described.

9. The vessel A, having bearings Q Q, shaft B, and plates D, in combination with gas-reservoirs L K and the ovens T U. substantiallyas shown and described.

10. The. semicircular detachable elements formed with grooves F, and the ribbed shaft B, adapted to carry the same, in eom bination In testimony that I claim the foregoing as with the vessel A, having 'vertically-adjustamy oWn'I affix my signature in presence of two Io ble bearings QQ, whereby the said elements Witnesses.

may be-lowered into peripheral contact-with 'VI 5 .the sides of the vessel A to form electrolytic *RGIL 'BLANCHARD' Y, oe11s,`and also beraised therefrom and removed Witnesses:

4or immersed-by rotation of said axis', substan I v BERNARD J. KELLY,-

vtially as; shown and described. l GEORGE N.' WoNsoN. 

